Rochester, NY – The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) announces a talkback (included with ticket purchase) following its first Special Concert of the 2015/16 season, Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy on Thursday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre.

Moderated by Shannon Symonds, associate curator for The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games (ICHEG), the talkback will explore the history and musical compositions of the Final Fantasy series. On the panel will be internationally-renowned expert in video game history, Akinori Nakamura, a visiting scholar at The Strong and professor at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. Joining him will be Grammy Award-winning conductor Arnie Roth and vocalist Susan Calloway, as well as Stephen Jacobs, associate director of RIT’s MAGIC (Media Arts Games Interaction Creativity) Center and professor of Interactive Games and Media.

“Among the tens of thousands of games in The Strong’s collection, few are as beloved as the Final Fantasy titles, and we’re so pleased to partner with the RPO to provide a unique opportunity for fans to learn from and talk with experts on these influential games and their majestic music,” says Jon-Paul C. Dyson, director of ICHEG.

For one night only, Rochester will experience the entertainment phenomenon that has thrilled audiences all over the world. Conducted by Roth with vocalist Calloway and guest chorus Madrigalia (with artistic director, RPO pianist Cary Ratcliff) the program features Japanese video game composer Nobuo Uematsu’s music from all 14 games and an HD video presentation of exclusive content from game developers SQUARE ENIX. Tickets start at $22, and may be purchased in person at the Eastman Theatre Box Office (433 East Main Street) and at all Wegmans That’s T.H.E. Ticket! locations, by phone at (585) 454-2100, or online at rpo.org.

The RPO’s 93rd season is presented by Dawn and Jacques Lipson. RPO performances are also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Additional sponsors include Monroe County; the City of Rochester; the Alfred Davis and Brunhilde Knapp Artists Performance Fund; the Mozart Performance Fund: Sarah D. Atkinson, M.D. and Steven Hess; City Newspaper; Kids Out And About.com; WARM 101.3; the Katherine T. and Jon L. Schumacher Orchestra Musician Soloist Fund.

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra has been committed to enriching and inspiring our community through the art of music since its founding in 1922. The RPO presents approximately 160 concerts and broadcasts a year, serving up to 170,000 people through ticketed events, education and community engagement activities, and concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region. Recently appointed 12th Music Director Ward Stare joins the ranks of former notable RPO music directors, including Eugene Goossens, José Iturbi, Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman and Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman. Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming during his 21-year tenure with the RPO. With Michael Butterman as Principal Conductor for Education and Community Engagement (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair) – the first endowed position of its kind in the country – the RPO reaches more than 12,000 children through its specific programs for school-aged children. Media please note: High-resolution images are available, and interviews as well as photo and footage opportunities can be arranged.